So, you are thinking of going on holiday or vacation, and you want to take some fine photos to show on Facebook or Google +. Here is some advice from the crew at Cool Runnings Catamaran Cruises in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.
First, perhaps you should get yourself a digital camera, so you don’t have to rely on the photo app on your cell phone.
First get in close, and let your subject fill your picture frame. Sometimes when we take a photo we are completely unaware of what is in the background, or where the light is coming from. Some photos are spectacular because the subject is backlit, which means they have the sun behind them and they have golden edges and you can’t see their features.
So … it is probably best to have the sun to your side rather than in front of you or even behind you and don’t forget to get your own shadow out of the picture. Also, you can use the flash on your camera to kill any dark shadows falling across your subject’s face. Yes, even out in strong sunlight.
Important to remember, that if you want to take a photo of someone in the market, for instance, it is polite to ask your intended subject’s permission. You can offer to send them the photo, or they may ask for a small amount of money. Anyway, if in doubt it is always best to ask.
Painters and photographers also talk about the golden hours, which are those hours early in the day, just before sunrise or just before the sun sets when the light is …well … golden. This is the best time to take a photo of a landscape or for a fine portrait of your loved one on the beach.
Taking photos at night
Here you may need a tripod and a cable release so that you don’t touch your camera and make it shake, because you will need a longer exposure. If you have forgotten to pack your tripod then rest your camera on a solid object that won’t wobble … like a good wall or a table. Professional photographers seem to agree that leaving the ISO level at normal, closing down the aperture and going for a longer exposure will give you a better night time shot.
Taking photos underwater
For those of you who can take your camera underwater, here are a few tips. Remember that everything is magnified underwater … so distance registers differently. As on firm land, get in as close as you safely can, and if you are using a flash this distance may be 4–6 feet (1.2–1.8 m). The flash also adds color to your photos. Again, as on land, try to fill your picture frame with your subject.
Here is to happy snapping or capturing from the crew at Cool Runnings Catamaran Cruises.
